By Nancy Tucker and Lori Baer NTucker@pma.com
Long equatorial days, mild temperatures, and fertile soil establish a year-round growing season ideally suited for Colombia’s blossoming floriculture industry. Located in Northwestern South America, Colombia boasts a strategic location mid-way between North and South America with easy access to global markets.
Photo courtesy of Flor Verde/Asolcoflores.
Cultivating more than 50 types of flowers, Colombia is a major player in global flower trade and the leading supplier of fresh-cut flowers to the U.S. Worldwide, the country ranks as the largest carnation exporter and the second largest exporter of flowers — exporting roughly 95% of their yield with 84% going to American markets thereby making flowers among the top five exports to the U.S. Flowers easily represent Colombia’s biggest nontraditional agricultural export, accounting for US$ 1.114 million exported in 2007 from some 18,000 acres. Approximately 75% of this acreage is devoted to roses, carnations and chrysanthemums. Such a prominent economic force
translates directly into a leading source of income for many of Colombia’s 4. 3 million citizens. Nearly 99,000 jobs stem directly from floral work with an additional 84,000 jobs through allied floral industries. When combined, these 183,000 jobs impact the livelihood for one million of the country’s citizens. Sixty-five percent of the direct and allied floral workers are women and floriculture comprises 25% of all rural jobs for Colombian women. This source of rural work has had a significant impact in terms of social welfare, stability, and security particularly surrounding Bogota and Medellin, two of Colombia’s largest cities around which most flower farms are clustered.
Colombia understands floriculture’s significance in providing social and environmental solutions to the country’s development. Attention from government and trade members to ensure the industry’s long-term viability has been elevated as a result.
Asocolflores, the Colombian association of flower exporters established in 1973, remains the strongest voice behind Colombian floriculture on matters of sustainability, market development, global floral dialogue and advocacy.
• Child care: Asocolflores-sponsored centers look after 18,000 children while parents work. The program also provides school kits, and promotes oral health to keep 35,000 children healthy.
• Professional training: USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development, works in partnership with Asocolflores to run a 12-month training program — School of Floriculture — that helps displaced people get back on their feet and become floriculture technicians and managers.
• Florverde® certification: Established in 1996 by Asocolflores, the program is designed to further improve Colombian workers’ quality of life and ensure Colombian-grown flowers meet environmental compliance.
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